Page:By order of the Czar.djvu/380

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368 BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.

be sent to Siberia to join her father. It appeared that during the risings against the Jews some ten years pre- viously, this woman's father had been sentenced to exile, which had been considerably modifkd under official influ- ence, that she had lived a wandering life, thinking he was dead ; but having been in the service of the Countess Stravensky two years previously in Paris, she had dis- covered that her mistress had already interested herself on behalf of her father, and had procured him some concessions in regard to punishment.

The story was, the correspondent stated, a curious romance in its way, seeing that the countess had exercised her influence in favor of the girl's father before Anna Klosstock herself came into her service. Amongst the few papers discovered on the occasion of their arrest, was a letter from the Countess Stravensky which had been found in the prisoner's possession, bearing out in various details the story of the woman's life. The police had made a special effort to receive endorsement of this from the countess herself, but had been unable to find her. She had passed through St. Petersburg only a few days pre- viously, to the neighborhood of Czarovna, in the pro- vince of Vilnavitch, where her husband, the count, had formerly resided, and no doubt in due course the police would hear from her laydship.

In the meantime, however, the judge took a lenient view of Anna Klosstock's case, and he more or less benevolently sentenced to Siberia ; and it is understood that by the order of the Czar, who has taken some personal interest in these arrests, she will be permitted to join her exiled father.

The news of Philip's arrest and conviction created a profound sensation in London. Not a moment was lost in bringing to bear such influence as Lady Forsyth and her friends possessed upon the Foreign Office to put the